Provision of the maternal factors, albumin and/or insulin to embryos in vitro restores preimplantation morphological development and cell proliferation to that seen in vivo. The hypothesis that the preimplantation effects of insulin or albumin would be reflected in increased fetal growth rate was examined. Two-cell embryos were cultured 48-50 h in medium supplemented with 0.17 micromol/l, 15 mi...

We have explanted mouse blastocysts into culture dishes and studies the positioning of the inner cell mass (ICM) at the time of attachment in order to establish what effect the location of the inner cell mass has on the subsequent development of embryos in vitro. We show that blastocysts may attach to the substrate with any portion of the trophectoderm. The location of ICM within the attaching ...

The extent to which trophectoderm (TE) and inner cell mass (ICM) lineages in the mouse blastocyst remain distinct during the period from the commencement of cavitation up until 48 h later in culture was investigated. Fluorescent latex microparticles were used to label exclusively all TE cells in nascent blastocysts and the position of labelled progeny in cultured blastocysts was examined by dis...

The ability of two embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell lines, F9 and PC13, to aggregate with preimplantation 8-cell mouse embryos is described. Both adhere to the embryonic cells and subsequently compact with the embryos. The aggregates form blastocysts in culture. The blastocysts sometimes contain the EC cells, located almost always in their inner cell mass. Differentiated derivatives of EC cells, n...

background:   objective: the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rabbit antiserum to es cells on mouse preimplantation embryo development and chimera production.   materials and methods: mouse 4-cell embryos were matured in vitro at 37.5 o c, in humidified 5% co 2 atmosphere for 12-36 h. the embryos were cultured in ksom medium with or without antiserum for 12-36 h. the ratios...

During mouse embryogenesis initial specification of the cell fates depends on the type of division during 8- to 16- and 16- to 32-cell stage transition. A conservative division of a blastomere creates two polar outer daughter cells, which are precursors of the trophectoderm (TE), whereas a differentiative division gives rise to a polar outer cell and an apolar inner (the presumptive inner cell ...

Correlative scanning electron, transmission electron, and light microscopy were utilized to study the morphogenic events occurring during mouse blastocyst outgrowth and early-egg-cylinder development in vitro. After hatching and attachment of blastocysts on the plastic surface, the blastocoelic cavity collapses as the mural trophoblasts spread and migrate outward. The inner cell mass is covered...